Accommodation levels in Rio de Janeiro are anticipated to be at full occupancy during the conference. While it is not the responsibility of the United Nations to procure accommodation for the media, it should be noted that the Brazilian national organizing committee for Rio+20 has committed to blocking a minimum of 500 hotel rooms in Rio de Janeiro for media covering the conference. Costs must be covered by the media. For more details, visit: http://www.rio20.gov.br For information regarding room availability please contact: Terramar Travel Agency

Presenting the final report of his High-level Panel on Global Sustainability to an informal meeting of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General said the Panel?s vision also included reducing inequality while combating climate change and ensuring respect for a range of other planetary boundaries. Its 56 recommendations fell under three main headings: empowering people to make sustainable choices; working towards a sustainable economy; and strengthening institutional governance.

Kicking off a day-long informal General Assembly thematic debate on ?Green economy: a pathway to sustainable development?, Ms. Migiro said the green economy also must address the menaces caused by climate change, notably food and energy insecurity and deforestation.

The debate, which aimed to guide next year?s United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, known as ?Rio+20?, featured a morning panel discussion on the characteristics of the green economy and its potential for achieving sustainable development, and an afternoon discussion on approaches to create such an economy.

8 Mar 2011 - Press Conference on Preparations for 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable DevelopmentThe United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next June, would give the international community a unique opportunity to build a global economic development model aimed at improving people?s lives and ensuring social equity while reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcity, the event?s Secretary-General said today.